Matching Model Paint To A Paint Chip

Tools 'n' Tips Article by David Rapasi on Mar 16 2011

Using Adobe Photoshop 5.5 gives me the ability to match model paint to the color paint chips from Don's Color with a lot less work.

The color picker in Photoshop allows me to scan a color chip to get the color Hue, the Saturation percentage, and the Brightness percentage.

If Model Master has a color that is the same ANA or FS number I will start with that color.

The color is sprayed on a one square inch piece of plastic, then scanned to Photoshop for comparison with Don's Color chips.

Comparing the color Hues, I can tell what color needs to be added to the paint mix to get the Model Master paint  to more closely match Don's Color paint chips.

Comparing the color's saturation, I can tell if more color needs to be added to the paint or if the color should be more grayed out.

Comparing the color's brightness, I can tell if the paint needs more black or white.

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These are some of the basic colors I use on model aircraft.

Navy Blue Gray QMS # 12, used on Navy aircraft in 1941 for the topside color on carrier and land based aircraft.

Model Master 1721 FS 35237 Medium Gray is almost a perfect match for QMS # 12.

Model Master doesn't make FS 35189 which some references say is a close match to QMS # 12.

Navy Sea Gray ANA 603 used on Navy aircraft in 1942-43 for the topside color on carrier, land based, and amphibious aircraft.

Model Master 1723 FS 36118 is a close match to ANA 603.

Navy Blue Gray QMS # M-485 used on Navy patrol and amphibious aircraft in 1941 and '42.

Model Master 2055 M-485 Navy Blue Gray is a close match but is about 20% lighter and 13% less color saturation than the color chip from Don's Color.

The Photos;

The three models show the use of these colors, the SBD is QMS #12 Blue Gray, the F4F is ANA 603 Sea Gray, and the Catalina is QMS # M-485 Blue Gray.

The color Hue chart has the color hue 204 highlighted because most of the colors discussed are in this range.

The photos show Don's Color paint chips with the right half of the chip made 20% lighter so the color can be seen as it would look when it fades.

The Saturation of a color will also decrease as it fades, but I only increased the brightness for clarity.

The photos of the Model Master paint chips were made from scans of the paint sprayed on plastic card stock.

The photo of the P 400 shows that the Adobe Photoshop color picker can be used to find the color hues in color photos.

Using Adobe Photoshop 5.5 makes it quite a bit easier to match paint than the old way of matching paint by eye.

David Rapasi

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Photos and text © by David Rapasi